Harmattan Season Facts & Worksheets

The Harmattan season is the hottest and most humid season on the African continent. It occurs between late November and the middle of March. It is typified by a wind of the same name and usually comes with a large amount of dust causing the temperature in West Africa to fall to 9°C (48.2°F) or rise as high as 30°C (86°F).

See the fact file below for more information on Harmattan season, or you can download our 24-page Harmattan season worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Etymology

• The Harmattan originates in West Africa, particularly Ghana, and In 1671, Africans coined the word Harmattan, which relates to the word “haramata,” a Twi or Fante word. Haramata comes from “aherramantah,” a mix of two words aherraman and tar. Aherraman means “to blow” as in the blowing of the wind, and “tah” means “tallow” and refers to the grease that Africans rubbed on their skins to counteract the dry roughness that the weather brings. The word eventually turned into “haramata” and later became Harmattan.

Characteristics

• The Harmattan is the dry, hot season of the Sahara desert, characterized by dry weather, little precipitation, and a strong northeasterly trade wind (a wind from east to west)  bearing the same name. It is renowned for creating desert-like conditions because of the following characteristics: a decrease of humidity, dispersion of cloud cover, suppression of rainfall, and occasionally the formation of enormous dust clouds, which leads to the occurrence of desert storms (also known as sandstorms.)
• The temperature can range from freezing in most regions to hot in others, depending on the local conditions. The season is distinct from winter because it is characterized by chilly, dry, dust-laden wind and changes in indoor temperatures during the day and night. It is not chilly in all areas, but the temperature is scorching in some sections of the Sahara during the Harmattan season. When the wind blows, the air is dry and desiccating.
• The Harmattan causes the arid climate of the Harmattan belt, which extends across Northern Africa and Southern Arabia. It’s a period of intense heat and humidity when the air is thick and still, and the sun feels like a laser beam. The days are long, the nights are short, and the only thing you want to do is stay indoors. 
• It only blows for a few weeks at a time but often covers an area in a thick haze when it does. The wind is powerful enough to bend palm trees and makes walking along the street difficult without collecting dust on your clothes. The wind typically blows in the Sahara from late December until the middle of March, although it can extend considerably longer.
• The elemental makeup of the Harmattan is entirely dominated by dust made of silicon. It can be so thick that it reduces solar radiation, diminishing its accompanying warmth and resulting in the associated chilly temperature.

Direction and Places Affected

• The West African monsoon, which prevails during the Northern hemisphere summer (from June to September) is the alternation of the southwesterly wind and the Harmattan at the surface. During this time, dry, dusty northeasterly trade winds blow from the Sahara desert across West Africa to the Atlantic Ocean.
• The Harmattan also crosses the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. It can also affect other parts of the world, such as the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The interaction between the Harmattan and the monsoon sometimes produces West African tornadoes.
• As the wind crosses the desert, it collects fine dust particles (0.5–10 μm) that cause low temperatures. The Harmattan blows with a temperature reaching 130°F (55°C), and the air is hot and dry. When it is cold,  the Harmattan can bring colder temperatures and snow. 

Effects

• The dry wind of the Harmattan season increases the risk of fires and can cause significant crop loss in all locations where the season is prevalent. The dust also becomes dangerous when it mixes with pollutants from solid-fuel stoves, emissions from outdated automobiles and industries, and open burning of garbage and bushfires for farming.
• Tornadoes can form when the Harmattan interacts with the monsoon winds.

Health Effects

• Saharan dust outbreaks cause an 8.4% increase in daily mortality, with cardiovascular effects predominating.
• Some people may get sudden nosebleeds if the humidity falls below 15%.
• It causes problems such as dry skin, chapped lips, dehydration, and the rare unexpected nosebleed. It also affects the respiratory system, causing breathing difficulty, aggravation of asthma, and easy transmission of respiratory diseases such as coughs, catarrh, and tuberculosis. The season also causes an increase in cardiovascular diseases, leading to increased hospitalization and cerebrovascular accidents such as strokes and congestive cardiac failure, defining it as a season of concern for cardiologists.
• This season is hazardous for asthmatics since it might aggravate the condition. Meningitis outbreak in the dusty environment are dangerous, affecting the eyes and skin.
• The emergence of the Harmattan brings about a dramatic environmental change. Due to the difference in the weather and its impact on daily life, agriculture and transportation in the area, the Harmattan is sometimes called an environmental disaster.

Harmattan Haze Effects

• Harmattan haze is a phenomenon that occurs in various West African countries when there is a lot of dust in the air. It may significantly reduce visibility and cover the sun for several days, similar to thick fog.
• As the haze dissipates and the sky clears due to the excessive dryness of the air, trees begin to die.  The Harmattan season also brings low humidity, with temperatures plummeting as low as 15% and impacting the health of many inhabitants.

Things to do During Harmattan Season

Here are some things you can do to protect yourself and keep your family safe during the Harmattan season.

• To avoid dehydration, drink lots of water.
• Regularly wash your eyes to avoid red eyes, which are frequent during harmattan.
• If your eyes are red, irritated, or runny, go to the clinic.
• When the air is dusty, use a mask or a cloth to cover your nose and mouth.
• Avoid or limit outdoor activities, particularly if you have allergies.
• Stay inside to prevent inhaling hazardous particles carried by the wind.
• If you have a runny, itchy, sneezing, or stuffy nose, get medical attention.
• Wear clothing that will keep you warm.
• Close the doors and windows.
• To avoid dry skin and dry palms, always apply moisturizers.
• Lip balm can help prevent cracked lips.

Harmattan Season Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about the Harmattan Season across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about the Harmattan Season, which is the hottest and most humid season on the African continent.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Harmattan Season Facts
2. Unscramble Me
3. Staying Healthy
4. 4 Pics 1 Word
5. Reflection
6. Dust Away
7. Desert of the South
8. The Poet
9. The Harmattan Experience
10. Wind Blows, Dust Goes
11. Be Dust Ready

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes the Harmattan season?

The main cause is dust in the air. The Harmattan is not only associated with low temperatures, but it also causes environmental pollution by the dust-laden northeast trade winds that blow across the Sahara Desert.

During what months is the Harmattan the strongest?

The Harmattan is a chilly, dry wind that blows from the northeast in the west Saharan region. It is most powerful from late November to mid-March. It can move hundreds of miles of dust across the Atlantic Ocean, which it frequently does; this dust frequently inhibits aircraft operations.

Why is it called the Harmattan?

The Harmattan is a wind that blows from the Sahara Desert over West Africa into the Gulf of Guinea. It is a dusty and dry wind. The name “Harmattan” comes from the Twi language, and it means “to blow away.”

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